Caster



(No Model,)

S. G. MENDENHALL.

GASTER.

No. 314,958. Patented Mar. 31, 1885.

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III I W V rflzvenir:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN O. MENDENHALL, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

CASTER- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 314,958, dated March 31, 1885.

Application filed September 10, 1884. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN C. MENDEN- HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Vayne and State of Indiana, (present business address Cincinnati, Ohio,) have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plate-Casters for Furniture and other Articles, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my present invention is to provide a plate-caster with an anti-friction movement which shall take up at the same time all vertical and lateral strains and prevent any rocking and binding action of the saddle.

The invention is applicable to casters having either single or double floor-wheels.

In carrying out my invention I provide the saddle or housing of the caster with six anti'friction rollers placed at equal distances apart, the rollers being alternately horizontal and vertical. The vertical rollers have bearing on the furniture-plate, while said plate is provided with a circular rim, which forms a way for the horizontal rollers.

1n order that my invention may be more fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure I is a perspective view of the rear of my improved caster. Fig. II is a side elevation showing the furniture-plate in Vertical section. Fig. III is a sectional view on the line III III, Fig. II. Fig. IV is a perspective view showing the application of the invention to a two wheel oscillating caster. Fig. V is a view of a similar caster in side eleva tion.

The floor-roller l of my improved caster may be made of hard wood or other suitable material, and is mounted in customarymanner on prongs or arms 2 of the saddle. At the top said prongs are connected by a disk or plate, 3, from the center of which rises a spindle, 4, which is riveted over a washer, 5, in the furniture-plate 6. The periphery of the disk 3 is provided with alternate brackets 7 and studs 8. In the former are journaled the vertical antifriction rollers 9, and upon the latter the horizontal rollers 10. One of the said vertical rollers 9 is placed in the vertical plane of the floor-wheel axle, or slightly in the rear of said plane, the arrangement being preferably such that there shall always be a slight bearing of the furniture-plate upon both of the vertical rollers 9 9, which are placed at equal distances from the first-named roller 9.

The furniture-plate 6 is formed with a downwardly-projecting rim, 11, which provides a lateral bearing for the horizontal anti-friction rollers. It will thus be seen that in a caster constructed as above described the whole weight of the furniture or other article supported will rest upon the vertical anti-friction rollers, the horizontal rollers receiving only lateral strain. Should the caster be forced to one side or the other in turning the piece of furniture, at least one of the anti-friction rollers will be immediately brought into play, and the floor wheel or roller will be allowed to swivel without the binding action which takes place if the saddle be allowed to tilt.

In applying the invention to a two-wheel oscillating caster, I form the disk 3 with a central stud or spindle, 12, which has a head elongated in a line perpendicular with the floorwheel axis. In this case the disk 3 is not formed on the saddle. The said saddle is formed with a slot or opening, in which the elongated head of the spindle works, finding bearing upon a pin, 13.

The following is claimed as new and of my invention 1. In a plate-caster, the combination, with a furniture plate having a circular downwardly-projecting rim, of the saddle having disk-shaped plate, and six anti-friction rollers having alternately vertical and horizontal bearing on said disk, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with a' caster-saddle having enlarged central opening, a spindle having bearing on transverse pin in said opening, a circular disk fixed to said spindle, and six anti-friction wheels alternately vertical and horizontal having bearing upon said disk, substantially as set forth.

STEPHEN C. MENDENHALL.

Witnesses:

HARRY E. KNIGHT, EDWARD STEER. 

